1254 Legos!?! I think youd've lost me at lego number 54. And, seriously, I was bored with the game before the half. The only fascination was a high school coach being pulled up to play in the big leagues. I love your Christmas day.

haha wow that must have took some patience to doOCD would come in handy it's trueSnickered a little at the dropped remarkAs if it were to parkAnd the falcon refused to landSlipping into a glitch not so grandBangThe guts of the lego would hang..haha

Great piece. As a father of two little ones and a big one, this really hits home. It can be tough to juggle the affections just right, and the consequences of failing are as wrenching as they are mercifully fleeting. We remember much longer than they, and we learn. Merry Christmas.

It's funny that we torture ourselves sometimes over things we say in a moment of concentration or frustration or whatever, but our little ones have long since forgotten it. I think you made up for things pretty well, after all, spaceships don't build themselves, right?

If only we could be infinite--but we're not, just human, and fortunately, the legacy we leave behind is composed of many moments, all working toward a balance--last lines here are truly chilling, bri--your writing just keeps getting better, and plus--that Lego thing looked insane--you surely will get bonus points in heaven for making that work out. ;_)

You and Logan did an awesome job building that all in one afternoon! He'll remember that time spent together for a very long time. Thankful kids love unconditionally and forgive so easily. Cole has long forgotten...

It's a jigsaw puzzle (somethings never lose their appeal) that presently sits unfinished on my diningroom table...we will finish, and while we do, my daughter will spill all her secrets without even realizing it, and I will be all ears. You must have patience, grasshopper...getting legos to resemble anything takes much! A wonderful share, Poet! And I do hope you had a fantastic Christmas

Both my boys love legos, except now they want the Frank Lloyd Wright legos! Yikes, I have done my share of building, and many times had to spit myself to meet the needs of more than one child. They all survive, and at times believe they are stronger for waiting their turn. Looks like you had a great Christmas!!

first, i just love when dads get so lost in playing and building with their kids that they just forget everything else for hours...and second, i think all parents know that feeling, you describe in your closure so masterfully, very well - and third - i think this is a fine, fine piece of writing brian

Oh but this takes me back to when my children were but wee ones. Those were some of the best days of my life and those Christmas past can never be beaten. I await the birth of grandchildren with anticipation for such times as building legos and seeing them pleased. When they grow up they wan't mobiles so they can text friends, who are now more important than mum and dad.

My husband built that same insane Lego thing with my daughter when she was much younger (she's now almost 16). We still have it on a shelf in our basement! Your kids are lucky to have such a great Dad, Brian. If you feel pangs of guilt now, be thankful you don't have a daughter-they know how to use your guilt against you!

I love legos (and a lot of things I didn't have as a kid) - Interesting how the mood changes, the poem turns... and though we would want to we can't be all things to all people (even children) concurrently (though wouldn't it be nice if we could?)

Cool lego's! (leggo my eggo man-dented and grey! Hah...) Two sons -that is good fortune, even if they don't always intersect or sharetime. I think it is odd my newphew loved them too, but never got into those 3-D puzzles...

When I became a stepdad years ago (first marriage), I was amazed how utterly easy and simple it was to fuck up as a father. Just get distracted, overwhelmed, tired ... and they're scarred for life. Or so it seems. I sure got a lot more gratitude for my father after the mantle was passed to me. -B

A great example of why we should embrace the moments of today...because tomorrow is promised to no one. I love the lego project..the memory will live eternally within your child...and that can not be purchased.

in under 12 parsecs. it's impossible to watch that movie and not dig ford's solo.

there's a lot here, reality in the boredom. tenderness in the moments. distraction in the football, but the humanity, and most especially the love you share with your sons is most sacred and brilliant. and cool, cooler somehow than solo sealing the deal with obi wan.

Aww ... Love the Lego spaceship. Can't be in two places at once eh dad! Sad when words that kids forget about quickly, hurt us more than they seem to hurt them. Kids think parents have all the answers and yet, we are learning how to raise them as much as they are learning how to grow. That's why I always say of myself I'm growing up with Chloe. Because, I've never known if I'm getting it right or not. And she runs rings around me with getting her own way unless I ask other parents for advice...LOL Kids!You're a good man and a good dad Brian. The writing is lovely, as per usual.

the mil falc man...the best space ship invention...ever and the best christmas present i ever received as a kid...if only id kept it (with the box) my old man reminds me we'd be rich... love this poem bro...a superb snatch of the xmas moments and memories... all the best my friend to you and your peeps :)

Ouch. Those moments happen far too often to me too. And they do leave their marks - I think you captured that feeling perfectly (and uncomfortably!) - excellent write, and that lego masterpiece is spectacular!

One day that lego spaceship will be a memory you reflect on and smile over.. i used to color with my kids and yes, i am the proud owner of the big box of crayolas and 2 snazzy coloring books and yes, i sometimes color.. makes me rememeber them as small children bit clearer when I color..

...there are Frank Lloyd Wright legos... oh my. Can you believe I gave them all away... and then had a boy after all (my girls never really liked them) ha ha. So, I am sure next year will be my turn. ha.

...there are Frank Lloyd Wright legos... oh my. Can you believe I gave them all away... and then had a boy after all (my girls never really liked them) ha ha. So, I am sure next year will be my turn. ha.

yeah, ouch! those last lines really hit hard, well described. a childs disappointment when he hears "not now" (its hard not being the center of the universe... bless his heart). as always, enjoyed the read.

legos! Oh, this brought back some fun memories of my two sons and my daughter when they were young and the pure fun they had in creating lego worlds. Nothing as elaborate as that, but my daughter did do the pirate ship. :)

Yes, parenting takes much patience. I just finished a never-ending game of Monopoly with mine. I have had those moments, too, when the words haunted me more than they seemed to haunt them. You have to forgive yourself because I know they forgive you :)

Hi Bri...I still have all their legos and for the fun of it, still buy the tiny legos for the stockings. They are 20 and 18. =)

You would not be so hard on me if I told you the same story. What matters is having a Dad who seeks us out and restores... a Dad who asks forgiveness and admits imperfection. Your sons are blessed to have an imperfect father like you.

`It takes lots of guts to be involved with them. But time spent with the kids is time well spent. One can be so engrossed with them. We never realized the kids need 'a friend' They've been very lucky for such a dad.